Circuit breaker



E. T. PLATZ CIRCUIT BREAKER Sept. 9, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1948 zo NEM, wh,

E. T. PLATZ CIRCUIT BREAKER Sept. 9, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 17, 1948 Sept' 92 E. T. PLATZ CIRCUIT BREAKER Sept. 9, 1952 E. T. PLATZ 2,610,272

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Nov. 17, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 J uml NVENTOR Sept. 9, 1952 E. T. PLATZ 2,610,272

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Nov. 17, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

a I j T. P25? BY 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 m a mi INVENTOR. QV/v4( IO I BY L? E T PLATZ CIRCUIT BREAKER Sept. 9, 1952 Filed Nov. 17, 1948 Sept. 9, 1952 E, T, PLATZ 2,610,272

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Nov. 17, 1948 9 Shees-Sheet 9 Patented Sept. 9, 1952 UNITED 'tsrlxriss-V PATENT oFFIcE YCIRCUIT BREAKER Elwood T. Platz,tDetr'oit, Mich., assigner to Bulldog Electric Products Company, Detroit, Mich.,

a. corporation of West Virginia Appliationivovemter 17, 194.8, ysena-1m. 60,549

10 Claims. 1 i This applicationrelates to circuit breakers, and discloses two different embodiments of circuit breakers in the drawings appended to the following speciiication. VIn one embodimentrshown in Figs. 1-16 of the drawings, there is shown a vcircuitbreaker having three poles, with a magnetic latchtrip means. 'In Figs. 17-18, there is shown a breaker having but one pole, with a bimetal or thermal latch trip means.

For an understanding of the two embodiments herein disclosed, reference should be had'to the appended drawings. In these drawings, l Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the three'pole, magnetic trip embodiment with its actuator or handle shown in the o position in full lines and in the on position in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a section View asv if on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the parts shown in the on position.

Figs. 3 and 4 areviews similar to Fig.l 2 but with the parts shown in the oli and tripped positions respectively.

Fig. 5 is a'fragrnentary elevation` view showing the handle, and a squared'shaft for connecting the handle toa spirally slotted cylinder. Fig. 6 is an elevation view showing a frame for housing the spirally slotted cylinder; thehandle assembly of Fig. 5 is disposed above such. frame. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the partsshown in Fig. 6.

'Fig 8 is a section View as if on line--B of- 6. v i Fig. 9 is a section view taken on line 9-9 lof Fig..8. .I Fig. 10 is an ted cylinder, showing it connected at .its lower` end to a yoke in turn connected toV an axle for the contactors of the breaker.

Fig. 1l is a section View as if on line II-l l of Fig. isa perspective View showing the latch,v

the latching' bar, and the trip bar for the. latching bar.

Fig. 16, is a plan section view as if on line IG-l 6 of Fig. 2. l y

Fig. 17 is a view like Fig- 16 vdiffering therefrom however, in that it shows a single pole elevation view of the spirally slot-` breaker, having a bimetal ortherrnal latch release means, instead of the multiple breaker and magnetic release means of Fig.v16.

Fig. 18 shows the single pole bimetal or thermal release means.

Fig. llil-shows a pair of breakers hereof as if arranged in a panelboard.

Figs. 1-16 These iigures show a multipole breaker having magnetic latch release means.

Fig. 16 shows the breaker as having a base 4U at the left end of which are mounted three line terminal connectors or Ibinding posts 42 connected to stationary contacts 4 4 adapted to be engaged by contact tips 46, Fig. 2, of three vertically movable contactors 48, Fig. 2, pivotally mounted by means of loose or lost motion pivots able handle 7D, and includes a U-shaped frame l2, shown best in Figs. 6, 'l and 8, which has on each side a slot 13 in which are vertically movable, horizontal pins T4, best shown in Fig. 8. These may be separate, or preferably integral, as shown, being opposite end portions of a single shaft. Pins 14 pass through spiral slots '16v of a cylinder 18, shown in Figs. l0, 11, 12 and 13. The upper end of cylinder T8 has a squared hole 19 slidably receiving a square. shaft having an upper or exposed stub end 8 l..

Frame 'l2 is fastened to the base 40 by screws 8.2 as shown in Figs. 8 and 16.

Shaft 80 has a horizontal circular disc 83, shown in Figs. 5 and 6, integrally mountedV on its upper end and the stub end of shaft 8| projects above said disc through a hole in the rectangular cover 84 ofthe casing to fit into a squared hole 85 of handle l0 whereby the latter is detachably connectable to stub end 8l of the shaft 80 and may be secured thereto in either of two different positions relative to the shaft 8U, as shown in Fig. 19. Circular disc 83 has a lug 86 projectzontal ycircular disc 83 and to frame 12 is a return spring 90.

At the lower end of cylinder 18 is a loose rivet or shouldered screw 94, Figs-11 and 13, vfor jpining cylinder 18 to a yoke 96M 'Thus' the yokeJand-V cylinder may move together vertically but cyl-V `r inder 18 may rotate on a vertical axis `free of the yoke. Transversely passing Vthrough andv thus connected to the three contactors 48 is the axle 68 which connects the ends or the legs of the yoke 96 to the contactors 48.- Axle 68 also passes through the slots 91, Fig. f3,k in thefrarne 12.

Pivotally mounted on frame 12 by a pin 98 is the latching or holding arm |02,vshwn best in Figs. 9 andV 15. Latch |02 consists of two connected arms having slots ,|04 to allow passage of horizontal pins 14. These pins 14, therefore, pass through frame 12, latching arms |02, and cylinder 18. One arrnof.,latch |02 has a latching extension |05, whereby latch |02 is releasably latched by latching bar |08 which is journalled at its ends in frame 12, andvhasimmoyably fastened to it as by screws |01ia trip bar |06, Figs. 14 and 15. Loosely hooked around the edge of trip bar |06 are three armatures H0, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, of the three magnets 62.` Armatures |0 are pivotally mounted in the frame 12 at ||2, andare normally lbiased upwardly by the springs ||4. Latching bar |08 has a notch |09 which cooperates with the extension |05 of latch |02 for releasably latching pins 14 and thus the mechanism asa whole.

' Latch'bar |08 has a spring, not shown, coiled around it tending to keep trip bar |06 in a raised, latch-holding position. When the trip bar |06 and the latch bar |08 are in their upward position, Fig, 2, the latching extension |05V of latch 02 is held upwardly and prevented from moving downwardly by the latch bar |08. In this way latch |02 is held immovable and latch |02 thus holds pins 14 vimmovable and thus prevents cylinder 18 from moving upwardly unless the handle is moved to rotate such cylinder on its vertical axis,l spirally in accordance with the guiding cooperation of the spiral slots 16 and the immovably held pins 14. l However, lwhen any magnet 62 is energized by excessive current it pulls down its armature ||0 and rocks the trip bar |06 to rock latch bar |08 clockwise to present notchV |09 of -bar |08 to the extension |05 of the latch |02, releasing the 'latter and permitting it to be free to be rocked clockwise. The freed latch |02 no longer holds pins 14 immovable and permits the lifting of these pins 14 and cylinder 18 and the contactors 48 by `springs 56, without the cylinder 18. and the handle being required to rotate. vThis is a trip free action.

YThe circuit The circuit from connectors 42 to binding posts 66 includes. the vparts, 42-44-46-48-'58- l p Operation 'AfWhen' the parts are in the on or clQsed circuit position, as shown in Fig. 2, and with the latch |02 releasably held by latch bar |08, the pins 14 rest in the upper portions of the spiral slots 16 of the cylinder 18. The parts are held stable in the "on position since the pins 14 are held by the left ends of the slots |04 of the latch |02, despite the bias of the springs 56 tending to move .the contactors 48, axley 68, yoke 86, pins 14 and cylinder. 1.8 upwardly along the ysquared shaft 80 of the handle 10. Latch |02 which is then held by latch bar |08, prevents vertical circuit closed position, and thus preventing the parts from movement of pins 14. Pins 14 rest in the upper and horizontal portions of spiral slots 16 of cylinder 18,` preventing cylinder 18 from rotating andvmovingp-upwardly when the parts are in the movingout of the circuit closed position'.v f Since, for upward movement of the contactors 48, the cylinder 18 must move upwardly, and sincethe cylinder 18 is held against suchmovement, the contactors 48 are held in the circuit closedv position, against thebias of .springs 56 which Vbias them to the open circuit position.

' B. Whenthe handle. is rotated clockwise, '8S shown in Fig.V l, to the oif position, the 'connection between .it and the cylinderA 18 established through torsion spring 88,`horizontal circullar disc 83, and shaft 80, causes cylinder 18V to rotate with a quick break action, and thusto cause spiral slots 16 to` ride up horizontal pins 14 and'move cylinder 18 upwardly. Springs 56 will cooperate to lift the contactors, the axle', the

yoke and the cylinder, and the circuit will beopened.

Horizontal pins 14 cannot move upwardly since they are held by latch |02 which is releasably held by bar |08. Pins 14, therefore, act as bearings for the rotation and upward `movement of the slotted cylinder 18.

When the handle is returned to the on`positionffrom the off position, cylinder 18'rotates and moves downwardly to move'contactors. 48 back to engagement with the stationary contacts 44 and close the circuit, with a quick make action.v C. In the event of an overload in any pole, with the parts in the closed circuit position, the magnet 62 of the overloaded pole will be energized to moveits armature ||0 down and thus vmove the common'trip. .bar |06 down to rotate latch bar |08'clockwise so that notch |09 of the latch bar` |08 is .presented to extension |05 of'latch |02. Latch |02 is now free to pivot about its pivot point 98 on frame 12. Springs 56 move contactors 48, yoke 98, pins 14 and cylinder 18 upwardly. Cylinder 18 need not. now rotate as it slides upwardly on squared shaft instead it carries horizontal pins 14 up with it. Horizontal pins 14 slide up in vertical slots 13 of frame 12,l

Fig. '1. Upward and circuit opening movement of the contactors 48, the axle 68, the yoke 96, pins 14 and cylinder 18 thus takes place.`

Trip free In the event the handle 10 is held against rotation during the overload release movement, the fact that the latch |02 has been freed from the latch bar |08 by the movement of the armatures ||0 may be recognized as permitting upward Automatic relatching During overload opening, the handle return spring 90 turns Acylinder 18 to the left from Fig. 4 so that the upper edges of slots 16 engage pins 14 and cam them down in frame slots 13 to rock latch|02 counter-clockwise to move its latchi-ng extension |05 up above bar'|`08, for automatic relatching. Meanwhile, the deenergized electromagnets 62 have allowed the armatures ||0 to be moved upwardly by springs H4 and release trip bar |06 to be raised by the coil spring on bar |08, not shown. The coil spring rotates trip` bar |06 and latch bar |08 so that thelatch at |05-|09` is reestablished. The rotary movement of cylinder 18 rotates shaft 80, parts 83, 88 and 89', and handle 10 together, as a unit, and the movement terminates with all parts in the open circuit position of Fig. 3 and with latch |02 releasably relatched by bar |08. The handle 10 has moved from the on -to the oiT' position due to the influence of the handle return spring 90, and without stressing spring 88. All the parts are now in the oi position.

It will thus be seen that cylinder 10 forms a part of the vhandle-contacter assembly, being connectedl at its upper end to the handle, and at its lower end toy the contacter, and that the horizontal pins 14, which are releasably held by the latch IDL-cooperate with the cylinder 18 to form a control arrangement for connecting the latch |02 and the handle-contacter assembly.

It will also be observed that when the latch |02 is held by the bar |08, axial or longitudinal motion of the cylinder 18 must be accompanied by rotary motion of the cylinder 18. when latch |02 is released, axial or longitudinal motion of the cylinder 18 is permitted without accompanying rotary motion of the cylinder 18.

It will also be noted that the contactors 48 connected -to 'the yoke 96 and, therefore, to the cylinder 18, are moved for contact separation when cylinder 18 is moved vertically, either by actuation by the handle or upon release of the horizontal pins 14 and such motion of the contactors 48 is caused by the biasing springs 5.6.

It will also be observed that in the circuit breaker hereof, the handle 10 and the contactors 48 are operatively connected through a quick make and break arrangement A whereby snap or quick make and break action of the contactors 'A isV obtained by handle movement, and wherein there is a means 90 for automatically and simultaneously relatching the breaker at |08--l00 and moving the handle 10 to an open circuit position from Fig. 4 to Fig. 3 in the event an automatic *ioverload, accompanied by release of a latch, takes place while the handle 10 is in the circuit closed position of Fig. 2.

Figs. 1 7-18 Although Figs. 1-16 show the circuit breaker in a three-pole embodiment, it is to be .understood that it could just as easily have been adapted to a single-pole embodiment. To do this, i-t would merely require shortening of the axle 68, as clearly shown in Fig. 17. The function of the breaker and the operation of the control arrangement would be exactly the same whether the breaker is a single pole or three pole embodiment. y

vItwill also be understood that the means for holding and releasing the` latch |02 could be either electro-magnetic, as shown in Figs. 1-16, inclusive, or thermal or bimetal, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18. Trip bar |06 which is normally However,

urged upwardly by a coil spring, not shown, cooperates with a thermal bimetal strip |28, Figs. 17 and 18, having a hook |29 thereon. In the event of an overload, thermal bimetal strip |28 will warp downwardly and will move the trip bar |06 downwardly. Bar |03 which is joined to the trip bar |06 will be rotated clockwise and in so rotating present its notch |09 to the latch |02. Latch |02 being freed will allow the cylinderV 18 and the contacter 48 to move upwardly and open the circuit.

Fig. 1'9

Fig. 19 illustrates the importance of the detachable connection at 8|-85 between the handle 10 and the shaft 80 which permits the handle to be shifted with respect to such shaft so as to occupy either one of two different positions with respect to the shaft and to the line and load terminal connectors 42-66.

Fig. 19 shows breakers A and B arranged in a pair as if in a panel board on opposite sides of the center bus bars C to which the line connectors. 42 are connected. Breaker A" is arranged With a handle 10 projecting towards the line connectors 42, as in Fig. l hereof. Consequently it is possible to obtain circuit opening operation by an up movement of the handle 10 and circuit closing operation by a down movement. Now if the breaker B were identical with breaker A as to relation of handle and shaft, the handle would be in the dotted line position for breaker B and the up movement of the handle would cause circuit closing and the down movement would cause circuit opening. Since it is desirable that for all breakers in a panel, whether they be left or right of the center bus bars, that the same linearl movement of the handle accomplish the identical specic operation, the handle 10 of the breaker' B is shown as having been removed from the shaft and shifted with respect to it and with respect to the line connectors 42 so as to occupy the full line position on breaker B. Thus up movement of the handle of either breaker A or B will cause circuit opening and down movement will cause circuit closing.

Here We have illustrated both breakers arranged with the handles moving up for circuit opening and down for circuit closing. If, as is sometimes desired, one wishes to arrange both handles to move up for circuit closing and down for circuit opening, then both handles of breakers A and B may be shifted with respect to their shafts to the dotted line positions shown so that both handles may be moved up for circuit closing and down for circuit opening.

Either arrangement is possible and either is an illustration of the value of detachably connecting the handle to the shaft and forming the connection in such a way that a handle may be shifted with respect to its shaft and to the line connections 42.

Now having described the circuit breakers herein disclosed, reference should be had to the claims which follow :for a. determination of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a circuit breaker having a contactor arranged for vertical movement and an actuator arranged for horizontal movement, means for interronnecting said actuator and contactor to translate horizontal movement of Said actuator into vertical movement of said contactor, said l means including a cylinder slidably but nonrotatably connected to saidl` actuator,` and rotatably but -nonslidably connected to said contactor, the cylinder beingv arranged t `rotateA on a vertical axis, a stationary frame,y spiral slot and pin means normally interconnecting the cylinder and frame 'in such a way that as the cylinder slides vertically it is normally required to rotate on a vertical axis, andl as it rotates it normally slides vertically, latch means for normally restraining the pinmeans from vertical movement and thus for normally restraining the cylinder from sliding vertically except as it is rotated by the actuator, and circuit responsive means for releasing said latch means to free the pin means and thus free the cylinder to slide vertically without rotating and thus without causing or requiring the actuator to rotate. l

V2.A In a circuit breaker having a contactor arranged for vertical movement and an actuator arranged for horizontal movement, means for interconnecting vsaid actuator and contactor to translate horizontal movement of said actuator into vertical movement of said contactor, said means including a cylinder slidably but nonrotatablyconnected to said actuator, and rotatably but nonslidably connected to said contactor, the cylinder being arranged to rotate on a vertical axis, a stationary frame, spiral slot and pin means normally interconnecting the cylinder and frame in such a Way that as the cylinder slides vertically it is normally required to rotate on a vertical axis, and as it rotates it normally slides vertically, latch means for normally restraining the pin means from vertical movement and thus for normally restraining the cylinder from sliding vertically except as it is rotated by the actuator, and circuit responsive means for releasing said latch means to free the pin means and thus free the cylinder to slide vertically without rotatng and thus without causing or requiring the actuator tc rotate, the slot and pin means including two pins on opposite sides of the cylinder, said frame and cylinder having slots on opposite sides of said cylinder for said pins, the latch means engaging both of such pins.

3. In a circuit breaker having a contactor arranged for vertical movement and an actuator arranged for horizontal movement, means for interconnecting said actuator and contactor to translate horizontal movement of said actuator into vertical movement of said contactor, said means including a cylinder slidably but nonrotatably connected to said actuator, and rotatably but nonslidably connected to said contactor, the cylinder being arranged to rotate on a vertical axis, a stationary frame, spiral slot and pin means normally interconnecting the cylinder and frame in such a way that as the cylinder slides vertically itis normally required to rotate on a vertical axis, and as it rotates it normally slides vertically, latch means for normally restraining the pin means from vertical movement and thus for normally restraining the cylinder from sliding'verticallyexcept as it is rotated by the actuator, and circuit responsive means for releasing said latch means to free the pin means and thus free the cylinder to slide vertically without rotating and thus without causing or requiring the actuator to rotate, the slot and pin means including two pins on vopposite sides of the cylinder, said frame and cylinder having slots on opposite sides of said cylinder for said pins, the latch means engaging both of such pins, the slots of the frame extending vertically and those of the cylinder extending spirally.

4. In a circuit breaker having a contactor arranged for vertical movement and an actuator arranged fori horizontalV movement, means- Vfor interconnecting said actuator and contactor to translate horizontalmovement of said actuator into vertical movement of said contactor, said means including a cylinder slidably but nonrotatably connected to said actuator, and rotatably but nonslidably connected to said contactor, the cylinder being arranged to rotate on a vertical axis, a stationary frame,v spiral slot and pin means normally interconnecting the cylinder and frame in rsuch a waygthat as-the cylinder slides vertically it is normallyfrequiredto rotate on a vertical axis, and as it rotates it normally slides vertically, latch means for,v normally :restraining the pin means from vertical movement and thus for normally restraining the cylinder from sliding-vertically except as it is rotated by the actuator, and circuit responsive means for releasing said latch means to free the pin means and thus free the cylinder to slide vertically without rotating and thus without causing or requiring the actuator vto rotate, the slot and pin means including two pins on opposite sides of the cylinder, said frame and cylinder having slots on opposite sides of'said cylinder for said pins, the latch means engaging both of such pins, the slots of the frame extending vertically and those of the cylinder extending spirally, the pins normally being held immovable in the frame slots and thus c'amming the cylinderV to move vertically as it rotates by engagement with the spiral slots of the cylinder.

5. A control arrangement for a circuit breaker comprising a stationary frame having a vertical slot therein, a spirally slotted cylinder adjacentl said frame, a pin having portions in the slot of the frame and in the slot of the cylinder, auto-A matically releasable latch means normally holding said pin stationary in the frame slot to form a guide for determining motion of said cylinder whereby the latter is then required to rotate on its axis as it slides vertically and is then required to slidevertically as it rotates on its axis, and automatic means for releasing said .latch means to free said pin to be movable vertically in said frame slot whereby thecylinder is then free tomove vertically without rotating.

6. A control arrangement for a circuit breaker comprising a stationary frame having a vertical slot therein, a spirally slotted cylinder adjacent said frame, av pin having portions in the slot of the frame and in the slot of the cylinder, automatically releasable latch means normally holding said pin stationary in the frame slot to form a guide for determining motion of said cylinderA slot therein, a spirally slotted cylinder adjacent' said frame, a pin'having portions in the slot of the frame and in the slotl of the cylinder, automatically releasable latch means normally holding said pin stationary in the frame slot to form a guide for determining motion of said cylinder whereby the latter is then required to rotate on its'axis as it slides vertically and is then required to slide vertically as it rotates on its axis, and automatic means for releasing said latch means to free said pin to be movable vertically in said frame slot whereby the cylinder is then free to move vertically without rotating, in combination with a spring biasing said cylinder to move vertically and an actuator for rotating said cylinder, and a contactor operatively connected to said cylinder and movable thereby when the cylinder moves vertically.

8. A control arrangement for a circuit breaker comprising a stationary frame having parallel spaced sides formed with vertical slots therein, a cylinder between said sides and having opposed spiral slots, pins having portions in the slots of the frame and in the slots of the cylinder, automatically releasable latch means normally holding said pins stationary in the frame slots to form guides for determining motion of said cylinder whereby the latter is then required to rotate on its axis` as it slides vertically and is then required to slide vertically as it rotates on its axis, and automatic means for releasing said latch means to free said pins to be movable vertically in said frame slots whereby the cylinder is then free to move vertically without rotating.

9. A control arrangement for a circuit breaker comprising a stationary frame having parallel spaced sides formed with vertical slots therein, a cylinder between said sides and having opposed spiral slots, pins having portions in the slots of the frame and in the slots of the cylinder, automatically releasable latch means normally holding said pins stationary in the frame slots to form guides for determining motion of said cylinder whereby the latter is then required to rotate on its axis as it slides vertically and is then required to slide vertically as it rotates on its axis, and automatic means for releasing said latch means to free said pins to be movable vertically in said frame slots whereby the cylinder is then free to move vertically without rotating, in combination with a spring biasing said cylinder to move vertically and a handle for rotating said cylinder.

10. A control arrangement for a circuit breaker comprising a, stationary frame having parallel spaced sides formed with vertical slots therein, a cylinder between said sides and having opposed spiral slots, pins having portions in the slots of the frame and in the slots of the cylinder, automatically releasable latch means, normally holding said pins stationary in the frame slots to form guides for determining motion of said cylinder whereby the latter is then required to rotate on its axis as it slides vertically and is then required to slide vertically as it rotates on its axis, and automatic means for releasing said latch means to free said pins to be movable vertically in said frame slots whereby the cylinder is then free to move vertically without rotating, in combination with a spring biasing said cylinder to move vertically and a handle for rotating said cylinder, and a contactor operatively connected to said cylinder and movable thereby when the cylinder moves vertically.

ELWOOD T. FLATZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,761,117 Getchell June 3, 1939 1,884,133 Nero Oct. 25, 1932 1,957,273 Langritz May 1, 1934 2,067,792 Seaman Jan. 12, 1937 2,203,131 Coy June 4, 1940 2,210,793 Butler Aug. 6, 1940 2,270,150 Taylor Jan. 13, 1942 2,289,643 Furnas et al July 14, 1942 2,290,495 Sandin et al July 21, 1942 2,354,157 Swingle July 18, 1944 2,360,922 Wilckens Oct. 24, 1944 2,390,365 Goff Dec. 4, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 653,425 France Mar. 21, 1929 

